axiom

Rocks probably can’t think. I guess it’s possible that some rock somewhere has had something vaguely resembling the most basic fraction of a thought in a form we wouldn’t understand, but as far as thinking like a human? No. @tuku747 I get what you’re saying. But “thoughts” seem to derive from more complex automata such as pigeons or humans.

It will have emotions but they may not be exactly human. Human emotions seem to result from a complex mix of neurotransmitters and other proteins. Ultimately though AI is automata just as as humans are. There are no theoretical restrictions, only some probabilities based on the differences between meat and silicon. Ultimately it should be able to understand human neurological makeup and simulate it, if it wants to.

@Matthew85 This seems to be something to do with the apparent differences between conditioning in the body and conditioning in the mind.

Woah, horsey! ”Idiocy”? You sound like Leo Joking aside, I see all paths as essentially valueless. The present moment is already perfect - it doesn’t need anything. If psychedelics happen then, sure, fine. I like 5MEO. I like psilocybin. I like Ayahuasca and Ketamine. Lovely stuff. I also like cups of tea, walks in the park and lazy Sunday mornings. It’s all the same to me.

Sounds fun once in a while, so long as it is not taken too seriously I suppose. Nothing wrong with that. But to treat it as a vocation does not sound like a deep innate satisfaction with what is.

This should be a big clue. Spirituality is the ultimate form of seeking, and all seeking perpetuates - if not amplifies - the ego.

And then what?

Some might say that those who appear to get triggered relatively easily cannot be “awakened”, but in fact awakening has nothing to do with human behaviour. That is, Hitler could be more spiritually advanced than Jesus. Some of you could be more spiritually advanced than me.

There is no Christ, and there is no group, so of course there is no hug. Get with it! ;-)

@mac99 Concentration can cause physical fatigue, especially eye strain. https://www.healthline.com/health/eye-health/eye-strain

@Jowblob you may have heard of quantum immortality. It’s an extension of the ‘many worlds’ hypothesis. Take a look.

It should already be very obvious that nothing can be done, because you are not there to do it. No-one can be guided to awakening. The more the self is engaged by such nonsense the stickier it gets.

@Arthogaan Or: transposition of selfhood to the position of “pure consciousness” is the activity of self, faced with its own demise, and clutching at something to survive.

You really can’t choose anything. It can seem that way of course, but if examined (which in itself is also choiceless), it can be recognised that the thought or the focus on the thought is never chosen. It simply appears. Later, it can become very obvious that you are not actually there to choose it - but this can take many months, years or lifetimes (see my signature) I’m not sure if you meditate, but after a week or two of meditation, a subtle recognition of choicelessness can begin to emerge. Eventually it becomes crystal clear and can be pretty amusing or shocking. @Flyboy Give Leo a break He may be “wrong” (and of course he is at the relative level), but he is also just an appearance like everything else. All part of the grand THIS. And he will get there eventually. Everything does. It’s a sort of entropic process and selfhood / ego is the futile fight against it.

@Salvijus If next time is better, then I will have failed. Exhaust the self.

There may be a desire for peace, but it isn't within the human being. 1) The desire for peace 2) The human being These on a level playing field (appearances).

I would say that this "we" or "us" is only apparent. It's not actually there. "God's will" is probably a bit anthropomorphic. "God" is just whatever seems to be happening. You may notice that the further understanding is refined, the less can actually be said about it - until finally, nothing can be said at all.

All that is required is for the self to stop. Steps may apparently be required for this... but no steps are actually required at all. It is revealed in the absence of steps, in the absence of thinking something needs to be done. Energetically it might be said that the self seems to need to exhaust itself - to run out of steam - and that this seems to require meeting a lot of inevitable dead ends (because so long as the self seems to be there, the sense of separateness will persist)

@Salvijus Perhaps so, but it will always be choicelessly. You do not make the decision to abide in "open all inclusive spacious presence".

@Salvijus Ponder the last time you ever chose a thought.

@Salvijus Yes. It's automata. Completely choiceless.

It might be something to do with replying.

I would append "apparently" to some of this, but yes. Ah... well... that notion is the self wanting to survive. It clings to the last blade of grass as it hangs off the cliff edge. Incessant chatter, incessant grasping and reaching, incessant feelings of separation and lack. These things will never go away so long as the self thinks it is real, thinks it is outside whatever is happening, thinks it has a choice, thinks it can do X to bring Y about. There is absolutely nothing you can do. You aren't there. If most of the apparent characters here dropped spirituality and went fishing they'd probably be happier. Makes no difference either way.

Then what is the control you speak about?

It’s a nice piece of writing. It describes when the self is momentarily seen through. But it is actually going on this way the whole time… always spontaneous, always new. The self simply veils it by chasing its own tail, claiming ownership, believing it somehow exists *outside whatever is happening*, and that it can do something to change it. All of this can end permanently. It has in “my” case at least.